Chapter 1351: Now Donglai

Under the pressure of the Qi court, Fang You had no choice but to intensify the war.However, this time, with so many Heavenly Talents gathered in Star-Moon Plain, he only allocated ten battalion slots, then withdrew and remained aloof, leaving only the indifferent Lady Xidu to preside. It was not without the intent of "two peaches kill three warriors."Of course, this intention can only remain in the realm of suspicion, with no possibility of confirmation.Outwardly, there is not a single fault to be found with Fang You.But among those hailed as Heavenly Talents, few are truly foolish.Even knowing the importance of this battle, the competition for the ten battalion slots remained highly rational.From beginning to end, perhaps only Gao Zhe became reckless. Perhaps he was too desperate for a sense of presence, too eager to prove himself.So Chong Xuan Sheng poured several basins of cold water on him – and it worked wonders.The world became quiet.The battle for the last commander position last night…Let us not speak of it.Lei Zhanqian's arrogance soared, challenging three opponents at once.Tian Chang, Wen Lianmu, and Gao Zhe did not stand on ceremony with him and charged forward together.However, there was no coordination between the three, especially Gao Zhe, who seemed to be sleepwalking on the battlefield, completely lacking structure and becoming increasingly chaotic.Finally, he was forcefully defeated by Lei Zhanqian.Tian Chang, whose Tide-Surge Blade could not be revealed, did not unleash his full combat power, but he also accepted the outcome. He indeed found it difficult to penetrate Lei Zhanqian's terrifying Thunder Domain.As for Wen Lianmu, this chaotic three-person coordination was worse than letting him confront Lei Zhanqian alone in a military formation duel.But if they were to duel with military formations and had fewer soldiers, they would inevitably be defeated by Lei Zhanqian's strength… How could Lady Xidu give him too many troops for a formation battle?Therefore, it remained an insoluble problem, and he had no choice but to return to assisting Wang Yi'er.The ten battalions promised by Fang You now all had their commanders assigned.Besides Li Shuwen, the Heavenly Talent of Xu Country who was the host, all those in power were Heavenly Talents from Qi Country.Fang You allocated fifty thousand main army troops, dividing them into ten battalions of similar strength. There was indeed no favoritism whatsoever. The soldiers under Li Shuwen were not significantly different from those under others, their strength could be considered equal.The various Heavenly Talents led their respective troops to drill.Since Jiang Wang had not yet arrived, Chong Xuan Sheng entrusted his battalion to Lin Xian temporarily.He initially intended to give this opportunity to Lin Jie, the Heavenly Talent from Yi Country, because his support for Jiang Wang was precise and he was well-suited to be the deputy of the First Inner Palace in history. But it was evident that Lin Xian's support was consistent, lofty, and cultivated a unique style… ultimately winning the approval of Chong Xuan Fatty.Lin Jie did not suffer a loss. He was taken under Yan Fu's wing and became Yan Fu's deputy commander.With Young Master Yan's protection, there would be no chance of enduring hardship in Star-Moon Plain…His battalion, above all else, had military equipment that was absolutely superior to the entire army! There would be no shortage of food, drink, or medicine.The first thing Young Master Yan did upon taking command was to arrange for the entire army to re-equip. All of Xu Country's own military equipment was phased out and replaced with the superior equipment he had purchased himself. He even had some extra military resources, which he provided to Chong Xuan Sheng and Li Longchuan.The two young masters from general families gleefully accepted. They showed not the slightest hint of pride as descendants of renowned generals, calling him 'Elder Brother Yan' repeatedly and even clamoring for 'Elder Brother Yan' to give them pointers on military strategy…"Are you going to completely wash your hands of this now?" Lady Xidu asked in the commander's tent after everyone had dispersed."What else?" Fang You leaned back in the commander's chair, his eyes slightly closed."Perhaps there are other ways, perhaps you can personally command them…""Don't be childish." Fang You interrupted, "This is the situation those people want, so we can only give it to them like this.""Then those who are fighting on the battlefield…" Lady Xidu sighed, "After all, they are the sons of Xu Country!""It was something without a choice from the beginning. To have dragged it out until today, one should already be content." Fang You's tone was calm.So calm that it almost seemed detached and ruthless.Lady Xidu also restrained her momentary display of vulnerability, her face becoming cold once more. She and Fang You were the only two Divine Arrival experts in Xu Country.As the pillars of Xu Country, there was no room for weakness."Does one who is a general have to be as hard as iron? Otherwise, they cannot become a renowned general?" she asked indifferently.Fang You was expressionless: "Emotions are for after the war. In war, we only have gains and losses.""I just received news," Lady Xidu said, "The God of War has also arrived.""Arrived where?" Fang You asked."He also went to observed the phenomena at Wanhe Temple!"This answer was truly unexpected, yet it made one feel… it was something Jiang Mengxiong would do!Yu Que's presence at Wanhe Temple in Xiang Country itself was a deterrent to the Star-Moon Plain battlefield.According to common sense, Qi Country should also send a True Lord level expert to face him from afar in a certain location in Xu Country, as an equal counterpart. Only then would it align with the situation in Star-Moon Plain. Xu Country had even made preparations to receive him…Who would have thought that although Jiang Mengxiong came, he would squeeze himself right beside Yu Que?During the Star-Moon Plain war, Xiang Country could almost be considered the territory of Jing Country. For Jiang Mengxiong, although it wasn't venturing deep into the tiger's den, there were still some risks.He truly regarded the myriad armies as nothing, possessing the heroic courage to travel to another country alone."It's truly suffocating…" Fang You murmured."What about His Majesty?" Lady Xidu asked after a period of silence.Fang You opened his eyes and looked at the dome."He is old," the Grand Marshal of Xu Country said.That ruler who failed to achieve the Golden Body Jade Marrow was indeed aging at a visible pace.The power of time is the most merciless.After that, silence reigned in the tent.The largest temple of spirit worship in Xiang Country is named "Wanhe," meaning "everything is harmonious and smooth."The giant elephant residing here is the Saint Spirit in the words of the people of Xiang Country.The giant elephant worshipped at Wanhe Temple is named Song Shan, and it is also the leader of all giant elephants within the borders of Xiang Country.It is enormous in size, possessing power close to a Dao Manifestation realm cultivator, and is inherently gentle, never actively harming others.The people of Xiang Country built a temple to worship it, in exchange for Song Shan's protection.For thousands of years, they have coexisted in this strange manner.Wanhe Temple is also regarded as the national temple of Xiang Country, a place of immense sacredness in the hearts of the people of Xiang Country.At this moment, within the temple, a man dressed in a Yin-Yang Martial Robe was leaning against a railing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant giant elephant Song Shan, which was like a small mountain.This was the so-called 'admiring the elephant'.Though his feet were on solid ground, it was as if he stood in the clouds.Though his face was uncovered, his features could not be discerned at all.Only his Yin-Yang Martial Robe, swirling within one's vision, carried a tangible sense of majesty.At this moment, Song Shan was lowering its head to consume a large tree, its movements slow and leisurely, exuding a sense of peaceful happiness.But suddenly, its entire massive body knelt down!Its trunk was pressed against the ground, unmoving.The large tree was still in its mouth, but it dared not continue to swallow, nor did it dare to spit it out.This terrifying beast, within whose body resided immense power, an existence revered as a Saint Spirit by the people of Xiang Country, did not dare to show even the slightest hint of resistance.And the man dressed in the Yin-Yang Martial Robe merely frowned: "Why are you here?"A voice, flat yet sweeping with boundless majesty, descended —"This giant elephant, the people of Jing Country may admire, but the people of Qi Country may not?"Yu Que, the commander of the Battle of Calamity Army of Jing Country, turned his head slightly and saw a man with a short beard and hair held by a hairpin already standing beside him, leaning on the railing.This person appeared to be middle-aged, with a calm countenance and a vast demeanor.His gaze stretched into the distance, naturally like an abyss or a sea."Why are you everywhere?" Yu Que asked without ceremony, "Does Qi Country have no one else?""Wind and rain beat the children, I'm just idling around anyway," Jiang Mengxiong said casually."To arrive uninvited is to be a thief," Yu Que said.Jiang Mengxiong replied with a faint smile: "Those who break down the mountain gate are the king's army. Those who defend the impoverished stockade are mountain bandits. Does the king's army need the mountain bandits to invite them for an extermination?"Yu Que said coldly, "Since ancient times, the king's army has always originated from the center."Jiang Mengxiong said, "Now it has come from the east."Yu Que looked at him, his eyes carrying a hint of severity: "Do you think that because you could descend from Sword Peak Mountain, you can go anywhere in the world?"Jiang Mengxiong spread his hands and said freely, "Let's give it a try."Yu Que's features were not clear to ordinary people, but in Jiang Mengxiong's eyes, nothing was hidden.It was a very young face, with thin lips, a high nose, and sword-like eyebrows. Time had only flowed in his eyes, leaving no traces elsewhere."You, ah, you," Yu Que shook his head, dispelled the tense atmosphere, and turned his gaze back to the giant elephant: "So many years have passed, and there is still no change.""Actually, I've changed," Jiang Mengxiong said."Oh?" Yu Que asked."I'm stronger," Jiang Mengxiong said flatly.If Wen Lianmu were present, he would surely understand. From whom Wang Yi'er learned that infuriating tone.Yu Que was startled for a moment, then laughed. He tilted his chin towards the giant elephant, the Saint Spirit of Xiang Country, which was prostrate on the ground: "Even if you are stronger, you shouldn't scare small animals. Look how you've scared it?"The terrifying beast with power close to the Dao Manifestation realm was merely a "small animal" in Yu Que's mouth."When a child under twenty was being chased to the heavens and the earth by your Jing Country people, I didn't see this kindness of yours." Jiang Mengxiong also looked at the giant elephant named Song Shan, but his words were far from polite: "What, can animals particularly evoke your empathy?"With that look, the mountain-like elephant's body immediately cracked, and blood surged out!Song Shan was fully conscious and dared not resist at all, only enduring in silence.At this moment, a hand reached out, blocking Jiang Mengxiong's front, cutting off his line of sight.Within Yu Que's clean hand, a faint whistling sound was emitted. Fierce winds roared, angry seas surged, and astonishing thunder rumbled, all gradually fading into silence."This matter has nothing to do with me," Yu Que said with a smile, "It's not quite appropriate for you to take your anger out on me, is it?"While speaking to Jiang Mengxiong, he transmitted a thought to the giant elephant Song Shan.Receiving support, the giant elephant quickly climbed to its feet and walked away unsteadily. Although its steps had the potential to shake the earth, each step landed silently, for fear of displeasing the strong individuals behind it.Jiang Mengxiong did not stop it, merely looking at Yu Que and saying: "It has nothing to do with you? Provoking the majesty of my great Qi without even needing the nod of someone at your level… Your Jing Country is truly impressive."Yu Que retracted his palm and said in a relaxed tone: "A thousand-year-old tree inevitably has rotten branches. A vast territory, how could there be no corrupt earth? Jing Country is an extremely ancient nation. It cannot be denied that in some aspects, it is indeed a bit sluggish.""It's alright. Incorrect perceptions always require time and external forces to correct." Jiang Mengxiong said calmly: "My great Qi doesn't mind providing a little assistance.""Then you'll have to work harder," Yu Que said with a smile, "How is this level enough?""Very simple!" Jiang Mengxiong said readily: "You say it's not enough, so my great Qi will raise the stakes. Keep raising, keep raising, until you say it's enough.""Do you have that many chips?" Yu Que turned to look at him.Jiang Mengxiong smiled: "Let's give it a try."He had already said this sentence twice, each time with such ease and confidence. His invincible confidence was deeply ingrained, no need to be ostentatious, but visible everywhere.The two True Lords looked at each other, like one sea crashing into another.World-destroying power was hidden within the calm sea.Whether this vast Wanhe Temple, dedicated to worshipping the Saint Spirit, would be destroyed or remain might just be a matter of a single thought.For the two True Lords, this was such a brief exchange of glances.But for the entire Xiang Country, it might be a shift in destiny."What do you want?" Yu Que finally asked."Qi Country does not ask for much, only the two words 'justice'," Jiang Mengxiong said: "First, the Mirror of the World Terrace shall publicly apologize to my great Qi's Heavenly Talent, restore his reputation, and compensate for his losses. Second, since the ancient Demon-Slaying Alliance covenant cannot be used justly at Jade Capital Mountain, my great Qi's Star Observing Tower is willing to enshrine it. In terms of the greater good of humanity, my Qi Country has never been willing to be left behind.""These two conditions, one more fantastical than the other," Yu Que said indifferently, "You know this is absolutely impossible."Jiang Mengxiong said, "I enjoy the process of turning the impossible into the possible."Yu Que was tempted to mock him, but he had to admit that Jiang Mengxiong was indeed such a person.Finally, he said, "Then I shall look forward to it.""Oh, I forgot to remind you," Jiang Mengxiong said, "These two conditions are limited to now.""Confidence is a good thing," Yu Que grinned, "Then let's see the outcome of the Star-Moon Plain battle.""I'll stay here with you to watch these next few days," Jiang Mengxiong said calmly."There's no need," Yu Que said, "If you have business, go attend to it elsewhere. You can rest assured, I will not enter the fray to bully children."Jiang Mengxiong merely said, "If I leave, how will your tense posture be apparent?"Yu Que avoided discussing this and suddenly asked: "Is Zhao Xuanyang alive or dead?"Jiang Mengxiong shook his head: "I don't know.""Heh heh," Yu Que laughed, "You don't even dare to give an answer?"Jiang Mengxiong looked at him strangely: "What do you mean, 'give'? Jiang Wang woke up from his coma, and Zhao Xuanyang was gone. Where do you expect a child in the Inner Palace realm to find an answer for you?"He paused for a moment, then asked: "This matter is very strange. Could there be a problem within your Jing Country?""Whether this answer can convince the Jing Tian Mansion, I don't know." Yu Que completely disregarded Jiang Mengxiong's probing and shook his head gently, his tone still very relaxed: "I will simply choose to be convinced."Jiang Mengxiong only smiled—"There is only one answer. Whoever is not satisfied, come find me."